PANJIM: Stating that the construction of observatory towers on signature Zuari Bridge was not a part of the original bridge tender, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral said that the towers will be built either by a public-private partnership (PPP) mode or gap funding or through the Central funds.
The Minister reiterated that the four-lane of the bridge will be opened for vehicular traffic in September this year.
Cabral said, “Towers were not part of the original bridge tender. We will have to construct it either on a PPP or through gap funding from the Government of India or by availing the Central funds since the Goa government has no funds to construct the towers.”
According to the Minister, the Union Secretary (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) had told the contractor to construct the towers on a PPP mode. A tender was also floated but it evoked poor response due to its viability.
The Minister said that he will meet Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in Delhi soon and discuss the matter.
“We wanted to commission one four-lane of the eight-lane signature bridge in July this year but it has been delayed. Now, by August 15, the alignment of the bridge will be completed and after load testing the bridge will be opened for the vehicular traffic in September,” he said.
